661,657 Points

Name

Jackie Connelly-Fornuff Century 21 AA Lindenhurst NY

Company

Long Island NY Real Estate Agent

Brand Affiliation

Century 21 Real Estate

E-mail

Contact Jackie Connelly-Fornuff Century 21 AA Lindenhurst NY (Long Island NY Real Estate Agent)

Google Profile

Find me on Google+

Website

http://www.longislandrealestatelady.com

Office Phone

(631) 703-0201

Address

1596 Straight Path, Lindenhurst, NY, 11757

Description

Serving Lindenhurst NY, Babylon, West Babylon, West Islip, Islip, Islip Terrace, North Babylon, Suffolk & Nassau Counties. Jackie is a Full-Time Realtor.

Lindenhurst NY Real Estate Market

As a homeowner myself, I know how I would want the sale of my home handled by my Realtor. I will treat you the way I expect to be treated. Also note, I am a full-time realtor that has the time to pay attention to all the details of the list and sale of your Long Island NY home.

• I know the Long Island market, as well as the local market. I will help you set a realistic selling price. And will educate you about what will not happen when you set the price too high. There is a difference between what you want and what you will get.
  
• Staying in constant communication is essential. Calling you at least twice a week to let you know how things are going in order to keep you in the loop.
  
• Discussing with you showing feedback, searching for new homes that come onto the market for that week and alerting you if those new homes are your competition and what we can do to out-compete them.
  
• Marketing your home using mediums that no one else uses.
  
• Guiding you through negotiations and the home inspection process and how to handle the rough spots.
  
• Giving you advice on home-staging and decluttering  and why not doing these things can cost you thousands.

My job is not done after you are in contract.

• I follow-up with your buyer's agent, your attorney, etc., to make sure things are going smoothly and to see if there is anything I can do to help in order to get to the closing table smoothly.
  
• I will even deliver documents if that is what you need to keep your life stress-free so you can be free to do other things that you enjoy.

My clients and customers tell me how they appreciate me getting back to them quickly and getting the answers to their questions. If I do not know the answer, I will get it for you and pronto! If for some reason I can't get you an answer the same day, I will tell you why. And know, I'm always on time for my appointments with you.

For a Competitive Market Analysis appointment, visit my website.

Email me to join my Neighborhood Monthly & Quarterly Market Reports. This will keep you informed about real estate activity in your neighborhood!

Sprucing Up Your Home:

It is more important than ever to make your home shine in the eyes of potential buyers. Equally important for sellers, however, is to make an impact on potential buyers without spending a lot of money.

Here are a few ideas: Make those small fixes you've been putting off. Is the handle on the kitchen cabinet loose? Is a corner of wallpaper hanging off the wall? Are there oil stains on the garage floor or rust stains on the stucco?

Now is the time to get these small tasks checked off. For a little time and very little money, you can back a big impact on how buyers feel about your home, and how they remember your home in comparison to others they've looked at.

Touch up paint. Most likely you have paint left over, taking up space in your garage. Take it out and spend an hour or two making sure the edges are smooth and scuff marks are covered. A well cared for home feels good to buyers, and they will remember your home more favorably.

Clean, clean, clean! Nothing affects a potential buyer quite like a clean home! Take time to dust and vacuum the entire house. Make sure toilets, sinks and mirrors are clean. And don't forget to tidy up inside closets and cupboards, as well as in the attic, basement and garage. Remember, buyers will be looking EVERYWHERE!

De-clutter! I know you've heard it a thousand times, but it really does make a difference. Put unnecessary décor and personal pictures in boxes and store them neatly on storage shelves or in the attic or basement, if you have one. If you don't have space in your home, maybe a family member or friend has an attic or basement you could store your boxes for a few months. If you have a lot of stuff, you may need to rent a storage unit while your home is on the market, but storage is inexpensive and many companies offer deals for a free month.

Include appliances. Buyers are looking for value, and only a great deal is going to motivate them to make an offer. For instance, when deciding between your home and another, a home that includes a washer and dryer is going to be more appealing than one that just has a hookup for these appliances. Buyers will consider costs they will have after buying the home before deciding to make an offer.

• No loose, cracked or curling shingles on the roof
• Adequate chimney caulking and flashing
• Windows, window sills and shutters all in good condition
• No peeling paint
• Gutters free of debris
• Down-spouts securely attached
• Clean driveway
• Uncluttered garage
• Mulched flower beds
• No obvious weeds or dead flowers and plants
• Trimmed hedges and no clippings
• No dead tree branches
• Fresh seasonal flowers in window boxes and planters
• Adequate outdoor lighting
• Safe walkways with no tripping hazards.
Before you list your property for sale, keep in mind that potential buyers will not cherish the marks on the bedroom wall recording the growth of your youngest child; they may not approve your pet’s bed and food dishes in the kitchen; perhaps their favorite wall treatment is not orange paint patterned with blue polka dots.

Here’s how to make your home’s interior more presentable:

• Remove excess personal photos, travel souvenirs and large posters
• Organize bookshelves, toy storage and hobby or workshop areas
• Wash windows, mirrors and any other decorative glass
• Shampoo carpeting and clean all hard surface flooring
• Dust everything
• Re-grout bathroom tile, if necessary, and remove mildew stains in laundry and bath
• Reorganize closets and donate unnecessary clothing
• Display fresh towels and clean bedding
• Tidy up the kitchen and bath • Repaint walls in neutral colors for maximum appeal if necessary
• Remove excess furniture and household goods to a storage facility, consignment shop or charity institution.

So take a weekend, make a checklist, bribe a friend or two with pizza to help you out, and get your home in top shape for visiting buyers. You'll be amazed at what a difference just these few things can do to make your home shine!

Your Home Is A Commodity, Not A Product!
When trying to understand the real estate market and why prices are what they are, it may help to think of your house as a commodity - not a product.

• A product is an item that a seller places a value on and prices it accordingly ... think: a sofa, a jar of peanut butter or a shovel. There will be differences in quality, differences in features, and differences in attractiveness. There will be sales available and some vendors may charge more or less than others ... but the price is the price as set by the seller.

• A commodity is an item whose price is determined by the buyer who has a perception of its current value. Think: stocks, gold, and silver. The buyer places a value on it and pays accordingly - prices of commodities go up and down. Commodities' prices are influenced by supply and demand. The more supply there is, the less the price will be. The more scarce the commodity, the higher the price will be. Who cares? What's the difference? Why does the distinction matter? A seller should care, understand the difference, and make the distinction ... then price their home accordingly. In today's real estate environment (in most areas of the country) where there is a plethora of available homes on the market, the prices are lower than when the inventory is sparse. The law of "supply and demand" is in control. In real estate, when the inventory is high, it pushes housing prices downward. A savvy seller will hire a Realtor who is educated and knowledgeable in their area and who will help them price their house accordingly. Sellers who position their houses correctly (as the commodity that it is!) sell for more money and in less time than those who treat their house as a product whose perceived value by the potential buyers may be different than theirs!

When You Think Of  Your House As A Commodity ... You will price it right and it will sell!

Lindenhurst NY Home Buying

Did you know that you, a buyer, are entitled to representation? Without it you have no one to negotiate your offer on your behalf because by New York State law, a seller's agent has to have their best interest at heart, not yours. As your Buyer's Agent, I will be able to pull up comparables so you can have a better idea of what to offer, I can give you a lot more information being your Buyer's Agent than if I wasn't. By not being your agent, I still have to, by New York State Law, have all seller's best interests at heart.

I will never try to get you to put an offer on a home in the hopes of a quick commission. You will let me know when you are ready to make an offer on a home I've showed you. I don't care if I have to show you hundreds of homes until you find "the one". It won't take hundreds, but you get the idea :) When you find that special home, you will know it. And, here are some tips for when you find your new home:

These 10 Commandments home buyers must follow may seem like common sense to many. Buyers, however, can sometimes forget with all the excitement surrounding the buying of their new home. In the past, I have heard of buyers who saw their home loan turned down, and their dream shattered, a few days before closing because they had bought furniture for their new home before it actually became their home. These buyers were not my clients but it always hurts when I hear of transactions falling apart for reasons that could have been avoided. These 10 commandments are part of the buyer packet I give all my clients when we first meet and I always stress that once you get pre-approved and the process is started, you can't do anything that might affect your credit.

1. Thou shalt not change jobs, become self-employed or quit your job. 2. Thou shalt not buy a car, truck or van (or you may be living in it)! 3. Thou shalt not use credit cards excessively or let your accounts fall behind.
4. Thou shalt not spend money you have set aside for closing.
5. Thou shalt not omit debts or liabilities from your loan application. 6. Thou shalt not buy furniture.
7. Thou shalt not originate any inquiries into your credit.
8. Thou shalt not make large deposits without first checking with your loan officer.
9. Thou shalt not change bank accounts.
10. Thou shalt not co-sign a loan for anyone.

If you are in the process of buying a home, remember that your credit must not change or be affected in any way until you actually sign the paperwork and get possession of your new home. Lenders will not only look into your credit when you first get pre-approved, they will check it again (and sometimes again and again) before they let you sign the mortgage. If you want to buy new furniture for your home or change jobs, just be patient. There will always be time to do it after the closing.

Understanding Market Value
The value of any given property is determined by many different factors. It is important for you, the buyer, to be aware of them. Here is a brief list of variables that may affect the market value of a home.

■ Physical Characteristics
■ Location
■ Type of community
■ Age
■ Size of home
■ Condition
■ Architectural Style
■ Competition
■ Number of other homes on the market and their price points
■ Length of time property has been on the market

All of these factors will help you determine the value of the home and guide you towards presenting the most appropriate offer. This brochure is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended, nor shall it be deemed, to provide or offer legal or financial advice or guidance. You should always consult with your own advisor when dealing with any of the information visited herein.

Mortgage Payment Comparison:

Let's say the Feds decides to raise the interest rate. Let me illustrate the potential shift in the housing and mortgage markets. The cause and effect is very clear:

Today you buy a $1 million dollar home:

Sales Price                                                                             $1,000,000.00

Down Payment                                                                     $   270,250.00

Loan Amount                                                                         $   729,750.00

Monthly Payment on a 30 year fixed at 5.125%              $       3,973.00

Now let us say if prices drop 10% in home values and today's $1 million dollar home sells for $900,000.00, this seems very reasonable.  The buyer would think well of course I should wait. Now let me add in to this scenario that the interest rate increased only by a modest 1%. Let's look at the numbers.

 Sales Price                                                                            $900,000.00

Down Payment                                                                    $200,000.00

Loan Amount                                                                        $700,000.00

Monthly Payment on a 30 year fixed at 6.125%             $    4,253.00

This increase in monthly payment will have a huge effect of the overall purchase power of the buyers and ultimately it will decrease the number of sales transactions. Hence the question should you wait or buy now, the answer is very clear to me.

 

Contact me today (631) 703-0201 to find out more about having a Buyer's Agent on your side.

Email Me to join my Neighborhood Monthly & Quarterly Market Reports. This will keep you informed about real estate activity in your neighborhood!

School Information
Lindenhurst NY School District
Babylon NY School District
West Babylon School District
North Babylon School District

About Lindenhurst NY

About Babylon NY

About West Babylon NY

About North Babylon NY

Jackie Connelly-Fornuff's Blog 

Century 21 AA Lindenhurst NY Testimonials Jackie Connelly Fornuf

Testimonials

This testimonial is from my buyer's parents via email. He was a first time home buyer and I helped him purchase, not only his first home, but it was also an REO property he was meant to buy! He bought his home in December 2011:

Lindenhurst NY Buyer Testimonial

The testimonial below is from my short sale homeowner and we closed on 2/6/12. Had the listing for almost 2 years and I wouldn't give up on it. There was no way my homeowner was going to foreclosure on my watch.

Lindenhurst NY Short Sale Homeowner Testimonial

The testimonial below is from a buyer-client who purchased and closed on a co-op:

Associations

• Century 21 AA Realty - Lindenhurst

• Long Island Board of Realtors

• National Association of Realtors

• New York State Association of Realtors

Seminars
First Time Home Buyers - Babylon Library